Daily Republican., 1887-08-31
BRAVE LITTLE rRUDE.


eyes like stars, and q merry, thrifty
way about her calculated to make q
man forget that this Is a hard. work "a
day world, full of vexation and dis.
appointment.
When Annie and I were married
we took Gertrude to live with us;
could not bear the thought OF the
lovely girl going u meet the world in
seme menial occupation, and Annie
was thankful TO have her sister with
her.
Gertrude-"Truder we always
called the dear child-paid her way,
/ assure you,
After the birth of baby Grace she
took the entire management of the
household upon her young shoulders,
and though we never kept a servant,
my wife never knew what 1t was TO
have care in the world.
So we went on for couple OF years
as happy as birds in nest, making
much OF the blessings we had, think
ing little or Dothing Of our privations
Alas, never dreamed that the first
reverse would come to US through me
Yet, was l TO be blamed?
Ever hard worker, one particu-
larly hot summer | had double duty to
perform at the bank and l over tasked
my ability.
l remember falling with dull crash
beneath my desk one day. and 1t was
weeks ere | was conscious that lay at
home in my own bed, carefully tended
by Annie and Trude.
/ had been stncken down with
brain fever, end the doctor had said
the struggle back to health and
strength would be long and serious,
for my system was wholly debilitated
by overwork.
After about six week, and l had
been declared out of danger, / awoke
one evening, after taking long nap,
to find the room deep in twilight and
very silent.
l lay some time in a drowsy state,
when suddenly l was aroused by the
|unmistakable sound of sob close by
me, followed by the low, earnest voice
OF Trude.
"Don't cry, Annie, DEAR" she said,
soothingly, you'll wake him."
"Oh. but, Trude, what are we to
dor" faltered my wife.
1--WE shall pull through all right,
dear, never fear!' was the brave re.
|ply.
"But every cent Of the money is
gone! There's a months rent due,
and no end of little outstanding bills.
Besides, the doctor won't be coming
much longer, and then, OF course,
there'll be his bill''
Heaven help me! her words almost
killed me!
But even then little Trude was equal
to the occasion.
I'VE must make some money,
Annie" she said firmly.
"Howp" in despair.
at is the height of the blackberry
season, and the fruit is unusually fine.
| shall go out at s o'clock to. morrow
morning, pick several quarts and sell
every one OF them at the hotels before
noon. / shall do the same as long az
the berries last; you will then see
whether we can make little money
or notn'
could have arisen and fallen at hel
feet in worship of her heroism; bul
poor Annie took life more seriously;
she seemed proof against Trudes
|hopefulness.
"Oh, that could never succeed" she
sighed.
swell, I'm going to try, anywayr'
was the undaunted rejoinder.
After short pause Annie said, sud.
denly:
"Trude, we are in desperate strait
why couldn't you write to Gerald
Dayton and ask him to lend US .ome
money!"
"Anniel"
swell, he was in love with you be.
fore mother died; he is very rich, and
Pm positive you would have been his
wife to day if you had let him ask YOU
so why
"Oh, hushl hush!" Gertrude cried,
mot word more OF thatl Let me
have my own way. Believe me.
shall succeed"
About 10 O'Clock on the following
morning Annie came to me, all dressed
| up in her best, and, in Leryous way,
asked me II l could spare her tor a
couple OF hours to 20 into the village
with Trnde.
knew in an instant the blackber
ries had been picked and that the dear
girls were going together to try their
fortune.
Rather than distress Annie by let.
Iting her know that l had overheard
their conversation of the preceding
levening, l assured her that | was
perfectly comfortable and urged her
going.
As they went down the garden path
II crept to the window and looked after
them.
Through the scalding tears that gath
cred before my eyes like film saw
Trude with q large basket upon each
arm, while my poor little wife fol-
lowed her with the baby in her arms.
God only knows what l suffered
Iduring those two hours
had fallen into light sleep from
sheer misery and exhaustion when |
was awakened by the entrance OF
Annie.
Her face was as radiant as an an
Igel's. She put the baby down betide
me and kissed me as though she had
not seen me for 10 years.
"Oh, what do you think p She
cried. "Who do you suppose 10 In the